Apparatus for extracting milk from lactating women

Abstract

Milk is extracted from a human breast by placing the breast in a cup having a vacuum port. The cup also has a flexible liner that allows vacuum to extract milk when the liner is in a first, open position, the milk being drawn into the vacuum port by the vacuum when the liner is in the first position. The liner also has a second position in which the nipple of the breast is compressed enough to substantially reduce the flow of milk from the breast. The liner is opened and closed in a pulsating manner at a predetermined pulsation rate. The user may select a pulsation ratio that produces acceptable milk transfer and comfort. Optimum pulsation ratios vary from user to user, but are generally between about 20 % and about 80 % for the vacuum portion of the pulsation cycle.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for extracting milk from a human breast comprising the steps of: 
 placing the breast in a cup having a vacuum port, the cup also having a flexible liner that allows milk to be extracted from the breast by moving the liner in pulsation cycles between a first, open position, and a second, closed position, the milk being drawn into the vacuum port by the vacuum when the liner is in the first position, the liner pressing against at least part of the breast enough to substantially reduce the flow of milk from the breast in the second position;    applying a vacuum to the vacuum port; and    releasing and compressing the liner in a pulsating manner at a predetermined pulsation ratio of time in the first position divided by the total time of the pulsation cycle that produces acceptable milk transfer and comfort.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the vacuum is applied to the breast between about 20% and about 80% of each pulsation cycle by releasing the liner, and milk flow is substantially cut off for the remaining part of the cycle by compressing the liner against the breast.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum is generated using a pump to generate the vacuum, the pulsation being generated by pulsation valves controlled by switching circuits.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the pulsation ratio is variable and is adjustable by the user.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the pump generates a substantially constant vacuum.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the pump generates a varying vacuum.  
     
     
         7 . Apparatus for extracting milk from a human breast comprising: 
 at least one breast cup having a vacuum port and a flexible liner;    a vacuum source connected to the vacuum port;    a pulsated air source capable of opening and closing the liner; and    a valve controller connected to atmosphere and/or vacuum, the valve controller generating pulsation cycles such that the liner allows vacuum to reach the breast through the vacuum port at a preset or user determined pulsation ratio that produces acceptable milk transfer and comfort.    
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the vacuum is applied to the breast between about 20% and about 80% of the pulsation cycle and then presses against at least part of the breast to reduce the vacuum during the remaining portion of the pulsation cycle.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the vacuum is generated using a pump to generate the vacuum, the pulsations being generated by pulsator valves controlled by switching circuits.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the pulsation ratio is variable and can be adjustable (adjusted) by the user.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the pump generates a substantially constant vacuum.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the pump generates a varying vacuum.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus for extracting milk from a human breast having a nipple, comprising: 
 at least one breast cup having dual chambers;    and a flexible liner between the chambers;    each chamber being connected to a vacuum source, alternately vented to atmospheric conditions, thereby controlling the position of the liner to (a) open to extract milk from the breast, and (b) compress the liner against the breast, and    valve controllers connected to the vacuum source and atmosphere, the valve controllers generating pulsation cycles such that the liner allows vacuum to reach the breast through the vacuum port between 20% and 80% of the pulsation cycle, and presses the liner against at least part of the breast to substantially reduce the vacuum applied to the breast during the remaining portion of the pulsation cycle.